RMIP-2 Airport Lots by Voltaire

[pilotdaryl 25]

Actually Voltaire with photoshop, the BAT, and alpha textures (you can learn about them here), it is possible to put taxiway entrances over the markings using an overhanging prop with the textures, and adding only 1 lot to your menu (alongside the normal ones).  I once optioned doing this but decided to put it aside.

P.S. Looking forward to the night shots!

Also noticed one problem with the roads.  The roads across taxiways and stuff as lots for the textures, but for other sections of street it is normal, plus there are even streetlights!  Plus, since they're TE and the streets have to connect to other roads, local traffic will be driving across taxiways!

To solve this, a non-transit enabled set of airport roads with correct markings and props could be made.  Though you couldn't drive on them.

I also have a little request: a helicopter terminal... you do have a helicopter pad, but it doesn't have a building (so you have to add one-I did this in M'cr), and pedestrian walkway markings aren't there.  So maybe you should give it a go...

P.S. I don't really know heli-pad markings...

[Voltaire 52]

Attempting to mix prop-pavement with true ground textures would never look right. SC4 ground textures are rendered at much higher resolution than props & buildings (compare any ground texture with any prop/building at zoom 6 to see what I mean). This fact caused me to choose ground textures from the beginning, because I wanted only the best quality images to appear on my Lots. And btw I have been using transparent texturing in BAT since January, I couldn't have done the ALS lamps without it.

Why make useless fake streets when you can have the real thing? The TE lots allow car and plane traffic to cross the same Lot -- now, placing streets through the airport won't stop you from driving UDI planes wherever you want.

Simgoober has made a Heliport building already, though it is in extended compatibility testing at the moment. I have it and it looks really nice.

[tommiej 0]

very nice voltaire, I'm looking forward to the release!!

[GMT 389]

wonderful work on the streetcrossings! very very VERY needed imo.

keep it up!

ohh, before I forget: ehm... are the 3-tile wide runways coming back with new markings? please think about it ;-)

EDIT: some time ago (actually, on the last page, but quite some time passed since then) you asked me how I solved my problem with the not showing lots... well, IF I remember right, my game fooled around with the management lots  so I simply kicked them over the edge of the paperbin and then it all worked fine.

[Voltaire 52]

Thanks tommiej, release by the end of this month is looking like a pretty safe bet. GMT, I think you'll be happy to hear that concept art is (slowly) coming together for the next edition of RMIP, and the first thing released will be the revised 3-tile-wide concrete runways. Sorry the MMLs don't work for you -- have you had better luck with other MMLs like Maxis Landmarks or Peg's Trail Park set?

Here's some closeups of the roadway crossings, they look pretty sharp IMO:

One thing you never ever EVER do while driving in an airport is cross the runway OFZ without direct approval from the tower. There is a real danger of vehicle-aircraft collisions on roads near the threshold, especially trucks/vans with high rooftops. Also the exhaust and wingtip vortices of heavy jets can knock cars off the road.

The taxiway crossings are basically the same except that approvals to cross would come from ground control. There are crossings in this Volume for both diagonal and orthogonal taxiways.

Presenting the brand-new NAVAIDS provided to RMIP by blahdy's BLP Heavy Industries. The best radio transmitters in SC4... Ever.

[tommiej 0]

Very nice transmitters indeed!! I really can't wait...

[dadyrghluv 8]

only thing i would say is the lines in the street dont match the rest of the street. overall i like them, they add a nice touch to the pack

[bearmans 0]

extremely realistic! Its just a shame the bog standard in-game streets have pavements around them. Fantastic though and thanks to Blahdy for releasing those transmitters!!!! Keep it up guys!

[pilotdaryl 25]

One thing about the road lots you might wanna do a left-hand drive version for the Brits and Aussies.

[Yoman3 5]

HOLY GOD how did I miss this!!!! Your work here in the past few months has been amazing Volt. The diagonal taxiways truley blow me away. Your new taxiway pieces look like they will help me make my airports much nicer. Its great to see you and BLP working together because I know what quality work you both do. I cant wait for the final realese my friend!

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

Woah! I can't beleive I've neverr seen this! Your lots are beautiful!

[allan_kuan1992 6]

You konw... I would like it if you guys did a plane like a BATed A380 or a B767-replacement B777/B787. All of the planes that most people have made so far are getting outdated with these newer airplanes.

Allan

[allan_kuan1992 6]

Whoops... sounds like the forum software has a bad habit of hiding messages that start a new page... Sorry for the double-posting...

Allan

[simzebu 20]

*Cough* edit button *cough*

Just use the edit button if you want to add something and you don't want to doubble post.

[Voltaire 52]

Indeed. Also, judicious use of the Delete button would be a good idea. It's one of the nicest features of the new Simtropolis.

GoldenKevin I addressed both your questions in earlier posts, please see the last page or two.

allan_kuan I understand what you're saying about the aircraft types available so far -- all the Maxis planes are at least 30 years old, and only the 767 and 747 are still in production today. I don't BAT well enough to do planes yet, maybe after the Large Airport Edition is done I can take time out to do some post-millenium types.

Thanks for the nice comments tommiej, dadyrghluv, bearmans, Yoman3, and ilikehotdogsalot. More content from BLP on the way in future releases! <Homer Simpson> mmmm... hot dogs.... </Homer Simpson>

Now, a new screenie to keep things moving: A closeup of what you can do with the new walkway Lots in this release. You can now make "concourses" and "gates" entirely at ground level, recreating an old-school aesthetic missing from todays mega-airports:

more pics to follow as I get closer to finalizing various groups of Lots.

[dadyrghluv 8]

wow! i can't wait for this to come out. i said it before though, i'm gonna have to redesign my airport now! lol. i did ask in a previous post if the lines in the street we're gonna stay that way or be removed. only reason i ask i because there is no lines in the default maxis streets and wouldn't match. or maybe make one with lines in them and one w/o the lines. just curious. keep it up Voltaire. i see the "show us your airport" thread getting a bump or 2 from these lots. lol

[bearmans 0]

oh my how i will need to change my airports. you can really see the size difference with the 747 and the 707s. Lovely work and the new taxiways look increadible.

[pilotdaryl 25]

The Nova episode "The Deadiest Plane Crash" just aired.

I learned of a quite new feature.  Red holding lights are not only in the holding marks, but they're on the actual runways and taxiways now.  Just seeing if you know... could go good in the Large Airport Edition...

[Voltaire 52]

You're running into exactly the same problem that real airports had 35 years ago bearmans... nobody had facilities big enough for the 747, so a lot of new construction was undertaken to keep terminals and runways up-to-date. Fortunately, re-building SC4 airports is a whole lot more fun!

The street pieces are just like I want them dadyrghluv -- the curbs are gone (no bumps in the taxiway allowed ) and the sidewalk pavement meshes perfectly with RMIP taxiway concrete. The markings are the same as required by FAA regulation in the real world. UDI planes have always been able to cross road networks, so if you'd rather have plain streets go right ahead.

No more hints on what's going into the large airport edition... you'll all just have to wait for the pics next month...

This'll be the second-last update before release, a preview of how nice this looks at night:

::Edit:: just realized this pic is smaller than the 800x600 limit... no need for a linking thumbnail this time

[pilotdaryl 25]

Hadibas un blahbla... tyreok yeor tryblah... poei treippoops iew jewdeu... thry... yetreo... tyMERT FEGETRE **** ME OH **** TREYUIO HOLY ****!

Truly Voltaire though, you got to start thinking bigger, like say make a 3-box PAPI as the old 2-box doesn't look so good with a 747 in the airport!

I really wish I had MSFS...

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: pilotdaryl

Truly Voltaire though, you got to start thinking bigger, like say make a 3-box PAPI as the old 2-box doesn't look so good with a 747 in the airport!

quote>

Please be patient.  Big / large airport facilities (ALSF-2, 4-box PAPI and more) are slated to be completed on and released after the current release cycle. 

[bearmans 0]

Take your time blahdy we know this is going to be good! Voltaire yeah I agree with you it is a perfect excuse to have some fun rebuilding. It seems that the real airports are having just as much fun preparing for the A380. Very much looking forward to the large airports edition!

[dadyrghluv 8]

np voltaire, i just figured i would ask on the streests is all. i can deal with it i geuss, although if i learn how, i might change them.

ah yea and quit teasing us already gosh be golly! lol, cant wait to see the last update before its release, its looking even better by the day. gj man

[TheOneThird 1]

I'm dying of anticipation. When is the next update?

Are things like this possible?

[pilotdaryl 25]

What about this?  What is it doing on the far side of LAX?  And BTW those smaller satellite terminals look good, is it possible to make jetways for them?

[tommiej 0]

looks nice voltaire! i now i still need to wait, but i can't!! keep it up!!

[SpokaneFlyBoy 2]

Originally posted by: pilotdarylTruly Voltaire though, you got to start thinking bigger, like say make a 3-box PAPI as the old 2-box doesn't look so good with a 747 in the airport!quote>

I've never seen a "3-box" PAPI todate at any airport I've knowledge of. I'd venture that they're very rare if they're employed at all.

[BlackPhoenixSim4 0]

I really think that we could use 'Runways' that are extra wide also, which would be specifically for large 747, etc...Planes and more varity and to match. Also maybe 'Runway and Taxiway Overpasses'. Could you please make these? Does anyone else have an opinion.

Thank-you...

BlackPhoenixSim4

[simzebu 20]

Overpasses would be cool. Right now I use a combination of Big Dig lots and stock tunnels

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: BlackPhoenixSim4 I really think that we could use 'Runways' that are extra wide also, which would be specifically for large 747, etc...Planes and more varity and to match. Also maybe 'Runway and Taxiway Overpasses'. Could you please make these? Does anyone else have an opinion.

Thank-you...

BlackPhoenixSim4quote>

yes, we can make that.  taxiway overpass was something being thought of myself, but runway overpass is going to take longer.

Generally you don't see a lot of runway overpasses b/c such overpass has to take extreme stress load with planes coming crashing down on them.  Only example I've seen so far in North America is KATL Atlanta Hartsfield airport's new runway 10-28.